Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon

On Saturday, June 12, our running club ran the Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon!! It was a great day!

I ran with two of our new runners, Jessica and Nancy. They did an amazing job!

Some of our group at the finish!

How Do I Celebrate My 10th Marathon, With a PR of Course!- Casper Marathon Race Report

About 5 months ago when Teresa Baker and I started talking about running the Casper Marathon, the planning was pretty easy, but as we got a week out, things started to unravel for me. Between other’s last minute cancellations (which doubled my expense) and other personal issues, it looked as though I might have had to bag Casper this year. In order to save my liver (which I would have eaten out with envy if I couldn’t go), I got resourceful and was able to make it work. Whew!

Sue, Teresa, Lindsay, Skyler and I met at Teresa’s house at 6:00pm Friday night and we headed out. Sue drove 3 hours to Rock Springs where we stayed the night, then got up and drove the remaining 3 ½ hours to Casper. We went right to the host hotel where we got all checked in, dropped our bags in our rooms and headed down to the packet pick up. The short sleeved tech-shirts were really nice and our bibs had our names on them (which was nice later in the race). We also received a Casper Marathon timing chip. The great score of the “expo” was the nice terry cloth robe with the Casper Marathon logo embroidered on it for $10 and the long sleeved tech shirts (also with the logo printed on the front) for $5!! Sweet! We all loaded up!!

After we got our packets we walked out to the lobby and saw a huge line of marathoners checking in. It was there we saw our friends and fellow Maniacs from our sister city of Sarasota! It was so great seeing Greg, Mary, Paul, & Donna again after Tacoma!! After they got checked in, we all met at the hotel bar for beers, diet cokes (for me) and appetizers. We were still awaiting the arrival of Bob B. and Franz, who started out early Saturday morning to drive straight to Casper. In our calculations they were only about an hour or so behind us.

When the hour turned into two, we started wondering what happened to them. Then they walked in. Bob and Franz were both sporting huge cowboy hats! OMH!!! The table ROARED with laughter when we saw them!! Seems in order to save some time they decided to take a “short cut” which took them on some dirt roads for like 2 hours! Bob’s Lexus was now an off road vehicle! Hee Hee!! After lunch, we all headed to our rooms for a little nap before the pasta dinner.

The pasta dinner was great. Not only was the food good, the room was full of Maniac and 50 Staters!! We were a bunch of newbies compared to this crowd! We all sat around laughing and having a great time with all of our new friends! After the pasta dinner and a quick trip to the store, we headed up to our rooms to prepare for race morning.

The race began at 6:30am so we were out to catch the bus to the start at 5:45am. The shuttle bus was a little yellow school bus which didn’t hold very many people, so we hung out in the lobby until it was our turn. Skyler and Lindsay were running their first marathon so Teresa, Sue and Franz were going to try and pace him, while Bob was going to pace Lindsay (they were sooooo cute in their matching father/daughter shirts). We made it to the start just in time to hit the bathrooms one more time, take some photos and we were off!

While I really wanted to stick Teresa, Franz & Sue for a while, I didn’t want to go out to fast and bonk, so I said good bye at mile 1 and got mentally prepared to run the rest of the race alone. Now, I have run many marathons alone, but only in races with 25-45,000 people! This marathon had 175 people, big difference. But, I put on my big girl panties and tried to run a smart race. I was happy to find some awesome folks and fellow Maniacs to run with as well!

The course got hot a little sooner than expected. I had shed all my layers by mile 1. I tried to stay focused on hydrating and felt great for most of the race. The course was really beautiful.

We ran along this river path which reminded us all of the Jordan River Parkway where we run our long runs. I loved that part of the race because the big trees created some much needed shade. There were more hills than expected, but nothing like Tacoma! Even with the heat, elevation and hills, I felt pretty strong until mile 18, when I started to feel the wall approaching. I slowed my pace, took extra walk break, ate some trail mix and tried to get my head back in the game. I stayed steady until mile 20. I took my last GU and I felt once it kicked in, I felt like I could finish. By this time in the race it was HOT! The aid stations were tremendous with ice cold water and sports drink. I drank ½ my water and poured the other ½ over my head. It felt sooooo good!

Between mile 22-23 I caught up to Teresa. When I came up behind her I asked “want some company?” and she replied “yes please!” I was so happy to see her! Running with someone the last few miles can really help take your mind off the pain. We continued until mile 23 when we picked up this young guy named Joseph, who was running his 1st marathon. He was having a hard time so Teresa asked him to stay with us and he did. Right before mile 25 Teresa looked at her watch and said to me, “At mile 25 you need to leave us. You are strong and could easily PR!” I said, “What if I don’t want to go?” She said, “Tuff, you’re going!” So at mile 25, Teresa said, “Angie, get going!” So I did. As I came around the corner to the finish, I could see the clock and I knew I did it!! One month after my PR in Tacoma, I took another 2 minutes off my time finishing in 4:56:41!!! The best part was having Franz standing there to put the medal around my neck! AWESOME!!

Teresa and Joseph were right behind me. It was really sweet to see him give Teresa a big hug and thank her for helping him. That to me is what running the marathon is all about. Even if we run alone, there is always someone to help you meet your goal of getting to the finish!

As we finished we got the GREAT news that Lindsay had finished her 1st marathon in 2nd place and Skyler had finished 2nd in his age group!! WAY TO GO!!!!! It was so great! We had a great time waiting at the finish line, cheering our new friends in, drinking Diet Pepsi and eating cold fruit and hot pizza!

After showers, we said goodbye to Bob, Franz, and Sue (who are real maniacs and drove the 7 hours home after the marathon), we went down to the bar where the race directors had set up a spread of fruits, cheeses, crackers, hot wings and baby hot dogs! There we met up with our new friend Patrick, who told us that 3 years before, he was in a wheelchair suffering the effects of MS!!! Now he is a crazy Marathon Maniac! WOW! What an inspiration! We of course also met up with our awesome Sarasota friends and had a chance to get to meet the race directors and marathon committee. We had a blast!

Later Teresa, Lindsay, Skyler and I took a drive up Casper Mountain, got dinner and headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep!

The next morning, we went for a lovely walk along the river where we had run then went to this great 50’s diner for breakfast. We came back to the hotel, packed our stuff and hit the road home!

We all had such a great time! Thanks Casper!!!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

I love and miss your coolness everyday!!

Memorial Day Running of the State Capitol 1/2 Marathon

This was the inaugural running of the State Capitol ½ Marathon here in Salt Lake City, so I had no past experience in this race to draw on, so it was going to be an adventure! What I did know was that it was going to be a small race (about 250-300 runners) and that about 1/6th of the course was going to be on trails.


Liz and Marilyn picked me up from my house at 6:00am and we headed to the start which was at Olympus Hills Mall. There we met up with Stella and her nephew Mike (who was running his 1st ½ Marathon). The weather was perfect for running. A little chilly at the start, so we sat in the car until it was time to hit the “Honey Bucket” one last time and line up to start.

Before we started, there were volunteers handing out American flags if you wanted to run with one. I took one of course! My thought was that if I could run 26.2 miles with a blow up guitar, I could run 13.1 with an American flag! The race director was also giving instructions, most of which I could not hear, but what I did hear was that the course was challenging and that you should add 20 minutes to your best ½ marathon time. Hmm, I wanted to go easy on this race as I am running the Casper Marathon only 6 days later, so I thought a 2:30 would do just fine on this course.

The race began with us running about 1.5 miles down Wasatch Boulevard. We then crossed over 1-80 on this bridge which landed us on the trailhead of the paved trail system to Foothill Boulevard. As we crossed the bridge, I thought I was getting light-headed. That was until I realized that it wasn’t me, it was the bridge! It was moving with the weight of the runners bouncing up and down on it! The guy next to me said he thought he was having a stroke for a second!

The paved trail was pretty hilly. I mixed it up a little timing wise. While I was doing 3:1’s, I took advantage of the downhill sections when they when they came, running through walk breaks when they occurred on a downhill section (I knew I would make them up later). At the 3 or 4th water stop, I saw Teri out there handing out water (great job Teri and thanks)! She told me that Jim was at the bottom of the trail waiting to run a few miles with me. Cool! I was pretty much running alone and my iPod lasted about 30 second in my ears before I couldn’t take it (I can rarely run with music). I saw Jim at the bottom of the Pioneer Trail State Park. We started up the hardest part of the course. This section was very reminiscent of the Antelope Island 25K. It was very hilly and rocky and sometimes we were running in gravel (not a fan). I walked/hiked a lot of this part. We passed the “Native American Village” where I had to stop for a photo next to the tee pees! When the trail evened out and was not so rocky, we had a blast! I love running on the trails! It was there that we connected to the Bonneville Shoreline Trial, running past the University of Utah, Red Butte and the JCC.

Once we hit 11th Avenue, I was excited! Jim turned off at the cemetery to head home (thanks for the company Jim!) and I felt great as I cruised those familiar last few miles! As I came down the canyon I could see the State Capitol! It was a nice steady downhill so I opened up and let fly! It felt so good as I came across the finish line waiving my flag in 2:19:33! Not my best time, but good for that course.

I waited a while for Stella, Mike (Congrats!!), Liz, and Marilyn to finish, then we all got the shuttle bus back to the start. From there we went for Brunch. There is nothing yummier (or more deserved) after a race than Café Rio (plug- hee hee), but we settled for yummy BBQ bacon cheeseburgers! It was a really fun day!

My Ogden Marathon Volunteer Experience!

The Ogden Marathon is one of my favorite races. I did the 1/2 last year and thought it was one of the most beautiful courses I had run on. This year I wasn't sure about Ogden as I had a few other races planned fairly close. By the time I decided I could swing it, the race had sold out.


One of my goals since I started running again was to try and give back to the sport I love by volunteering at at least one race per year. This year it was the Ogden Marathon. Just because I couldn't run, didn't mean I couldn't still be involed in the race! The best part was that David (my non-running husband) decided to join me (of course in the back of my head I was secretly wishing that the experience would inspire him so much that we would have to stop at the running store on the way home to buy him some running shoes)! That didn't happen, but he did have a great time.

David and I were assigned to the finish line area and I was stoked. I really wanted to be there when to see my friends and fellow Maniacs cross the line! We greeted an congratulated each runner as they crossed the finish line and put a medal around their neck.

David and I were stoked when we saw two of the DJ's from Radio from Hell finish the 1/2. I hung a medal around Ritchie T's neck and David medaled Gina B.! I also gave 1/2 marathon medals to my friends Bev, Raquel, Rita, and Andrea (Andrea, you are a real inspiration)!

When the marathoners came in, I started looking for our Maniacs (I was determined to hang the medals on our Maniacs)! First in was Bob K. He killed it, with a PR!! Next I saw Franz come in with Bart Yasso of Runner's World! I gave both of them their medals and in return got sweaty kisses and hugs! I loved it! Next in was Kevin, Marilyn and Liz!

Bob K. at the finish!

Franz & Bart Yasso at the finish!

Me and Bart Yasso at the finish!

Kevin at the finish!

Liz & Marilyn at the finish!

I loved seeing all the first timers run in with smiles on their faces and tears flowing. I also have a whole new respect for the volunteers that get up early and stand in the sun all day to make our marathon experience a good one. I challenge everyone reading this to volunteer at one race this year. You will work your butt off, but you will love it! I know the next race I do, I will be make sure to thank every volunteer I see!

Great job to ALL who ran and volunteered! Ogden is back on my list for next year!

Am I a Maniac or just plain CRAZY?! The rest of this year is going to be FUN/HURT!

OK- Yes, I have been told that Marathon Maniacs must be a little "unbalanced" to run so many marathons. I for one, am on the lower level of Maniac status for only completing 9 marathons in a little over a year, but looking at the rest of my schedule for this year, I think I might be a little Crazy.
June 6th I will embark on the Casper Marathon in Casper, WY. Less than a week later on June 12th, I will run the Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon. June 19th & 20th, Teresa, Liz and I have signed on to run Ragnar's Wasatch Back Relay (188 Miles).

July 11th, I will run the Missoula Marathon, in Missoula, MT.

August 27th & 28th, I will run with Teresa and Jim in the Hood to Coast Relay (197 miles) in Oregon.

A week later, on September 4th, I signed up for the Pocatello Marathon. Two weeks after that on September 18th, I am running the Top of Utah Marathon.

October 2, I run the St. George Marathon and on October 31st, I go to our nation's capitol to run the Marine Corps Marathon.

I was stressing about not having anything booked for November & December yet, but I got tired just typing this! I might just need a rest!

Tacoma City Marathon / Marathon Maniac Reunion and a PR for Me!!

All of us Utah Maniacs were counting down the days for this race. Getting to meet so many other Maniacs was amazing!!

Saturday morning started with Franz, Sue, Jim and myself flying to Seattle. Once we landed, we made it to the hotel where we met up with Teresa, Bob, Lindsay, Doug, Trina, and Kentucky Maniac, Karen (who was an adopted Utah Maniac for the weekend- Hee Hee).

One thing that I loved about this race was the expo, the MM reunion meeting and the finish was right at the hotel. It was very convenient! The first thing we saw was when we walked into the expo was MM President, Steven Yee sitting behind a table covered in MM gear (which was not for sale and which Steven and Chris (MM #2) got a Utah beatdown about- Hee Hee).

When our group walked in, he jumped up and greeted us all by name, which was very impressive as it was the first time we had ever met in person. Now I have to say, the Utah Maniacs made an entrance! We were all sporting our new jackets! We looked SHARP!! We picked up our bibs and timing chips, met more Maniacs and then decided to get lunch.

We walked over to this nice little cafe and had some yummy, BBQ and french dip sandwiches! After lunch it was time to hit the MM reunion meeting.

The MM reunion meeting was fun. It was run by the founders of the club. The Hall of Fame awards were given, there were door prizes (Bob, Doug, and Karen all won prizes), a slide show (which we were all in), we all introduced ourselves by stating our name, where we were from and how many stars we had and we got to meet so many other Maniacs. It was awesome!

While 1/2 our group attened the official pasta party, Teresa, Bob, Jim, Karen, Lindsay and myself went to a really good restaurant where we sat at the chef's table and had a really great meal. After our meal, we met up with the rest of our crew in the hotel lounge and just relaxed before going to our rooms to get ready for race morning.

The next morning we all me in the lobby at 6:50am, then walked to the start. It was pretty cold and there was rain in the forecast, but we were all prepared. The energy of all the Maniacs at the start was AMAZING! We were all ready to go!! After some photos, we all went to our pace groups. The gun went off and the race began!

As we started we were all feeling good! We winded though the streets of Tacoma, looking at all of the really interesting architecture. We all knew that the course was going to be hilly, but we were told that the course was flat until the half when the real hills began. This was not quite the case. The entire course was hilly, but around mile 10, it got super hilly!

At around mile 7 we saw Lindsay run by (she and Trina were running the half) and was looking great! We saw her again as she looped back and we were all super excited as she was in the top 3! We couldn't wait to hear how she finished.

As we hit about mile 12, I started feeling pretty bad. I don't know what it was. Jim an Teresa were looking and feeling great. Karen was sticking to her plan and looking great right behind us, but this is where mentally I began to loose it. There are so many things that were running through my mind. I didn't want to hold them back, but I didn't want to run the rest alone either. It was metally tough to hit the wall so early in the race. We were running in one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen, but I couldn't enjoy it much. I pushed hard to keep up, but felt if I would never make it to the finish if I didn't get it together.

Jim pulled away about mile 17. Teresa was still looking great. While she made a potty stop, I told her that I was going to just walk until she caught up to me. That was just what I needed. I walked for about 5 minutes, when I saw Teresa. She caught up with me and really helped me get my running mojo back! We were going along pretty good. I was feeling much better. We didn't see Jim for miles. At about mile 24 we saw him, I thought he had finished already and was coming back to meet us, unfortunately, that was not the case. Leg cramps got him and he stopped stretch out when we passed him.

It was right about that time that Teresa said to me "I don't want to tell you this, but you are on track for a PR." "WHAT?!!" I had stopped looking at my time and was just focusing on my intervals. I thought there was no way I was going to PR on this course, with the hills and the wind! Teresa just kept coaching me. "Nice and steady" she would tell me. We hit mile 25 and were in the zone. At mile 26, we went for it! As we approached the finish line I could see the clock. I was going to PR!!!! As I Teresa and crossed the line together, I just broke into tears! I could not believe it!! 4:58:11 on the hardest course I had ever run!! I probably hugged Teresa for 3 minutes bawling on her shoulder! I was so grateful to her for sticking with me.
We saw Bob and Lindsay at the finish cheering for us and that's where we found out that Linday took 3rd in the half and Bob ran under 4 hours and Sue took 3rd in her age group!!! WOW!! Jim came in shortly after us and the three of us stood for photos, just happy to be done!

We quickly showered and met up at Harmons Brewery for the post race Maniac get together! We feasted, shared race stories and hung out with more Maniacs! It was a blast! We then headed back to the hotel lobby for some relaxing conversation before we headed to the airport to head home.

This race was really tough for eveyone, but EVERYONE did a FANTASTIC job! The Utah Maniacs were represented well and we can all be proud of the job we did! I am!!